Trudy Harrison has celebrated the return of the Sunday rail service by taking a whistle-stop tour of the Cumbria Coast Line.
On Sunday, Mrs Harrison joined local councillors in Millom to wave off the first Northern Rail service heading south to Barrow – the first train for more than 40 years.
Mrs Harrison and councillors then hopped on board a newly refurbished carriage returning north to Ravenglass before riding the La’al Ratty train through to Dalegarth Station in Eskdale.
Mrs Harrison, said: “Up and down the line I know people are making the most of this new addition to our service.
“Its return will help university students enjoy a weekend at home with their friends and family, it will enable our visitor economy to double its offer to customers by travelling by train and will generally improve our connectivity with the outside world and help those visiting West Cumbria, for work or leisure, to do so by train in the full glory of our spectacular coastline and Western Lake District.
“Our celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Status needs vastly improved road, rail and digital connectivity, whilst the new service represents a very large step in the right sustainable direction there is still much need to provide a more reliable service.
“One in 25 trains being significantly delayed or cancelled is not the service we deserve.”
The last Sunday train to Millom is at 7.07pm.
The first Sunday train south from Millom towards Barrow will leave at 9.40am and reach Barrow for 10.11am - the last Sunday train to Barrow leaves at 7.08pm.
